From Barriers to Breakthroughs
The Business Council of Alberta has released a new report, From Barriers to Breakthroughs: Early Steps to Unlock Canada’s Investment Potential, calling for urgent action to restore investor confidence and chart a new course toward long-term prosperity.
Economic growth in Canada has stalled over the last decade—and with it, our standard of living has begun to slip. A major reason behind this worrying trend is that business investment—a critical driver of growth—has been weak, suffering under a federal policy environment that has ranged from unhelpful to counterproductive.
Canada’s future prosperity depends on reversing this trend.
The report builds on BCA’s A Strong Canada. A Good Life. policy platform released earlier this year and is intended to help guide federal action at a critical moment. It emphasizes the need for government to create the conditions for growth and strengthen Canada’s position as a top destination for investment.
Part I: Immediate Steps to Ignite Progress
Part one of the report identifies key actions the federal government can take now to signal a new era of economic ambition, strengthen investor confidence, and unleash the potential of Canada’s natural resource sector.
Show the world Canada is ready to lead
Position Canada not just as a top choice for business, but the top choice. Clearly signal to global investors a shift that Canada is now serious about growth and competitiveness.
Build a truly national economy
Eliminate internal trade and labour mobility barriers to unlock the full potential of a unified Canadian market.
Respect the Constitutional authority of provinces and territories
Align federal efforts with provincial authority to provide policy clarity and stability for business and investors.
Unlock the potential of Canada’s natural resource sector
Repeal or reform policies that deter investment and actively champion responsible resource development.
Create clarity on Indigenous consultation
Establish a clear, credible and effective consultation framework to support shared prosperity.
Strengthen trade infrastructure to enable export growth
Invest in the expansion of modern, reliable trade infrastructure to ensure goods reach global markets efficiently.
Refocus immigration on highly skilled talent
Prioritize attracting and retaining top global talent to drive innovation and economic growth.
Part II: Critical Areas for Further Research
BCA will continue to advance this work over the coming months through a series of focused reports with policy recommendations that will be released later this year.
Fixing Canada’s major project approval processes
- Canada’s approval process is too slow, complex, and uncertain
- The Building Canada Act helps but applies to too few projects
- A streamlined, consistent system is needed to attract investment
Modernizing the tax system to incentivize investment
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Canada’s tax system is outdated and hinders investment and business growth
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Global competitors are advancing tax reforms to attract capital
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Canada must simplify and modernize its tax system to stay competitive
Streamlining Canada’s policy and regulatory landscape
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Businesses face overlapping rules and high compliance costs
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Support programs are fragmented, hard to access, and often ineffective
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Canada needs a clearer, more stable policy environment to restore investor confidence
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Media Inquiries
For more information on this project or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact: media@businesscouncilab.com